Very Reverend Protopresbyter '''Thomas Hopko''' (born March 28, 1939, Endicott, New York) is an Orthodox Christian [[priest]] and theologian. He was the Dean of [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary]] from September 1992 until July 1, 2002 and taught dogmatic theology in this institution from 1968 until 2002. After his retirement, he carries honorary title of Dean Emeritus.

Very Reverend Protopresbyter '''Thomas Hopko''' is an Orthodox [[priest]] and [[theologian]] of the [[Orthodox Church in America]]. He was the Dean of [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary]] from 1992 until 2002, having also taught there from 1968 until 2002.

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Fr. Hopko was [[baptism|baptized]] and raised in St. Mary’s Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Greek-Catholic Church, Endicott, NY. He gained his B.A. in Russian Studies, Fordham University, 1960, followed by his M.Div., [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary]], in 1963. He then took an M.A. in Philosophy, Duquesne University, in 1968 and gained his Ph.D. in Theology, Fordham University, in 1982.

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==Life==

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Thomas John Hopko was born on [[March 28]], 1939, in Endicott, New York. Thomas Hopko was [[baptism|baptized]] and raised in St. Mary's Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Greek-Catholic Church, Endicott, NY. He attended public schools in Endicott, graduating from Union-Endicott High School in 1956.

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At St. Vladimir's Seminary, Hopko studied with such renowned Orthodox theologians as Fr. [[Alexander Schmemann]], Fr. [[John Meyendorff]], Nicholas Arseniev and Serge Verkhovskoy. He was [[ordination|ordained]] to holy presbyterate in 1963 and served several parishes in the states of Ohio and New York. In 1968 he began to teach at St. Vladimir's and eventually succeeded his teacher, Serge Verkhovskoy, as professor of dogmatic theology. He was made [[archpriest]] in 1970 and, upon his election as Dean, was elevated to the rank of Protopresbyter (1995).

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After graduating from high school, Thomas enrolled at Fordham University in New York, graduating in 1960 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Russian Studies. He continued his education at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, from which he received his Master of Divinity degree in 1963. At St. Vladimir's Seminary, Thomas studied with such renowned Orthodox theologians as Fr. [[Alexander Schmemann]], Fr. [[John Meyendorff]], Nicholas Arseniev and Serge Verkhovskoy. Later in 1968, he earned a Master of Arts degree in Philosophy from Duquesne University. In 1982, he received his Ph.D. in Theology from Fordham University.

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Fr. Hopko is a prominent Orthodox Christian lecturer and speaker, well-known both in the Orthodox and ecumenical circles. He served as a member of the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches and as a delegate from the Orthodox Church in America to the Assemblies of WCC in Uppsala, Sweden and Nairobi, Kenya. He was also President of the Orthodox Theological Society in America (1992- 1995).

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Before he was [[ordination|ordained]] to the [[priest]]hood, he married Anne Schmemann in 1963. They raised five children.

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==Links==

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After his ordination in 1963, Fr. Tom served as pastor at a number of [[parish]]es, beginning with Holy Resurrection Church at Warren, Ohio from 1963 to 1968. He was the parish [[priest]] at St. Gregory the Theologian Church in Wappingers Falls, New York from 1968 to 1978. From 1978 to 1983, Fr. Tom served at the St. Nicholas Church in Jamaica Estates, New York.

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* http://www.oca.org/OCorthfaith.asp?SID=2

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* http://www.oca.org/QAindex.asp?SID=3

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In 1968, while he was serving at St. Gregory the Theologian Church he began teaching at St. Vladimir's Seminary and eventually succeeded his teacher, Serge Verkhovskoy, as professor of dogmatic theology. In addition to dogmatic theology, the courses he taught included Practical Theology, Homiletics, and Spirituality. In September 1992, Fr. Hopko was appointed Dean of St. Vladimir's Seminary, and served until his retirement from the office on [[July 1]], 2002. While serving as dean, Fr. Tom was the [[rector]] of the seminary's Three Hierarchs [[Chapel]].

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* http://www.oca.org/QAabout.asp?SID=3

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[[Category: Priests]]

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In 1970, he was elevated to [[archpriest]] and, after his election as Dean, he was raised to the rank of Protopresbyter in 1995. Upon his retirement, Fr. Hopko was given the title of Dean Emeritus by the Board of Trustees of the St. Vladimir's Seminary.

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Fr. Hopko is a prominent Orthodox Christian lecturer and speaker, well-known both in Orthodox and ecumenical circles. He served as a member of the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches and as a delegate from the Orthodox Church in America to the Assemblies of WCC in Uppsala, Sweden; and Nairobi, Kenya. He was also President of the Orthodox Theological Society in America from 1992 to 1995.

Life

Thomas John Hopko was born on March 28, 1939, in Endicott, New York. Thomas Hopko was baptized and raised in St. Mary's Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Greek-Catholic Church, Endicott, NY. He attended public schools in Endicott, graduating from Union-Endicott High School in 1956.

After graduating from high school, Thomas enrolled at Fordham University in New York, graduating in 1960 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Russian Studies. He continued his education at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, from which he received his Master of Divinity degree in 1963. At St. Vladimir's Seminary, Thomas studied with such renowned Orthodox theologians as Fr. Alexander Schmemann, Fr. John Meyendorff, Nicholas Arseniev and Serge Verkhovskoy. Later in 1968, he earned a Master of Arts degree in Philosophy from Duquesne University. In 1982, he received his Ph.D. in Theology from Fordham University.

Before he was ordained to the priesthood, he married Anne Schmemann in 1963. They raised five children.

After his ordination in 1963, Fr. Tom served as pastor at a number of parishes, beginning with Holy Resurrection Church at Warren, Ohio from 1963 to 1968. He was the parish priest at St. Gregory the Theologian Church in Wappingers Falls, New York from 1968 to 1978. From 1978 to 1983, Fr. Tom served at the St. Nicholas Church in Jamaica Estates, New York.

In 1968, while he was serving at St. Gregory the Theologian Church he began teaching at St. Vladimir's Seminary and eventually succeeded his teacher, Serge Verkhovskoy, as professor of dogmatic theology. In addition to dogmatic theology, the courses he taught included Practical Theology, Homiletics, and Spirituality. In September 1992, Fr. Hopko was appointed Dean of St. Vladimir's Seminary, and served until his retirement from the office on July 1, 2002. While serving as dean, Fr. Tom was the rector of the seminary's Three Hierarchs Chapel.

In 1970, he was elevated to archpriest and, after his election as Dean, he was raised to the rank of Protopresbyter in 1995. Upon his retirement, Fr. Hopko was given the title of Dean Emeritus by the Board of Trustees of the St. Vladimir's Seminary.

Fr. Hopko is a prominent Orthodox Christian lecturer and speaker, well-known both in Orthodox and ecumenical circles. He served as a member of the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches and as a delegate from the Orthodox Church in America to the Assemblies of WCC in Uppsala, Sweden; and Nairobi, Kenya. He was also President of the Orthodox Theological Society in America from 1992 to 1995.